FORBIDDEN

Chapter seven

Jasmine

I felt that odd sense of disturbance in my heart but I brushed it off and turned to face him. He slowly closed the distance between us and for some reason I couldn’t tell, I felt my skin burning under the scrutiny of his unreadable stare.

He came to a stop before me. I could feel his body heat radiating off him, making me further aware of my surroundings.

He placed both his hands on my shoulders and I lifted my eyes to look him in his face, but I couldn’t hold his intense gaze for more than three seconds before looking away and swallowing a dry lump in my throat.

What is he doing? Why is he so close to me? Why isn’t he saying anything?

I could swear he heard the rapid beating of my heart.

You don’t always have to be this tense around me, I don’t bite, I’m still your big brother Jasmine,” he said almost in a whisper,” you’ve become so distant and I don’t like it. This is your house. Feel free. Watch movies, cook, and come into my room anytime you want. Be you.”

I was at a loss for words. What was I meant to say? How should I respond to this?

I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out.

“Do I scare you?” He asked as if sensing my thoughts and I nodded frantically, looking up at him.

“You do. You have changed seb, you no longer look at me with that love as you used to.. I paused before continuing, you look at me as if you want to eat me and you also look angry.

He scoffed in slight amusement. “Is that all,” he asked.

I nodded.

“ I’m sorry, I was just angry from work, also for your posting, I just thought we could use the opportunity to spend more time together. You know? I’ve missed my little sister, I know you will be mad when you find out,” he smiled, his eyes lighting up in a way I hadn’t noticed in a long time.

My brother had one of the most beautiful smiles I’ve ever seen. He was so perfectly made that it should be illegal.

Sometimes, I wish he weren’t my brother. I swear I would have willingly thrown myself at him by now, but it is what it is.

“You should have said so,” I said with an eye roll, feeling more at ease now.

“ I know no matter how stubborn you can be, you wouldn’t blame me,” he casually strode to his bed, the muscles on his back flexing with each movement he made.

We bade each other goodnight and I left for my room.

The night got better and as it did, I began to doubt my judgment of my stepbrother. I had been the one misunderstanding him all along. He hadn’t changed. He was still the sweet big brother I used to know.

The night ended with me smiling in my dreams.

**————————————————————-**

I decided to prepare breakfast for us to eat. It was the weekend and Sebastian said he’d be home all day. I thought it would be wise to prepare his Favourite meal.

“Breakfast is served,” I said with a grin when he came down the stairs.

He was casually dressed in a way I hadn’t seen him in a long time. Whenever he visited home, he was always formally dressed, as expected, as the CEO.

Seeing him in his grey sweatpants and black singlet made me remember those days when he still lived with us back at home.

He looked gorgeous, I must say.

His short, black hair was neatly combed with just a few careless strands falling just above the crease of his brows.

His lick- worthy Adam’s apple bobbed when his pink lips curved into a small smile.

“Mine,” he called, and I couldn’t help the warmth that spread across my cheeks at the way he called me- so personal, so intentional.

“You know you’ll have to stop calling me that soon, right?” I teased knowing he hated to hear that.

A small frown appeared on his face, but it disappeared instantly, replaced by a scoff,”why “ he asked, taking a seat.

“You’ll be getting married soon. How do you think Stella would feel when you call me that, and also I’ll soon be getting married too? I smiled while I served our meal and sat down to eat but I noticed his countenance had turned sour. “Is everything okay?” I asked.

“Do you have a boyfriend?,” he asked Leaning his back on a seat, slowly fondling with the fork in his hand while staring into nothing. His grip on the fork was tightened and it got me…worried.

“No I don’t, just saying casually,” I don’t think this is the right time to tell him about Jake. I’ll tell him when the time is right.

“Seb?” I called cautiously, wondering if I had gone too far with my jokes.

Sebastian had always had anger issues. He’s always had a little bit of a temper problem, but Dad helped him fix it with the help of therapy and support.

But that didn’t mean the possibility of him snapping at any moment should be ruled out.

“Seb?” I called a little firmer this time and he slowly shifted his gaze towards me, “What’s wrong?” My heart was already racing. He got me scared.

“Nothing, mine let’s eat.” He said so calmly that it scared me. His countenance returned to normal as if everything was fine.

I was tempted to insist on knowing what had just happened, but for the sake of my peace and my sanity, I kept quiet, and we ate the rest of the meal quietly.

Every time I attempted to trust him again, he just goes…off and…scares me.

Right now, sitting in the sitting room and watching a movie with him left me a bit uncomfortable. He didn’t let me return to my room after breakfast. He insisted we watch a movie he’d been dying to watch together.

The movie pulled me in only half-heartedly as my thoughts swirled around the man sitting beside me.

I reluctantly sat back and watched him while he placed my legs on his thighs, fondling and massaging them - something that used to seem normal to me once upon a time… but not anymore. I was uncomfortable as f**k.

He was so engrossed in the movie that he seemed to have forgotten I was sitting right next to him. Sometimes, I wonder what goes on in his mind. He always seemed so detached and deep in thought.

I shifted slightly on the couch, my legs draped over his lap as he massaged my calves with firm, intentional motions. I wanted to be anywhere but here, trapped in this heated tension. Moreover, it was already 11:00 am and I had promised to call my boyfriend Jake. He would be waiting for my call already.

Poor Jake!.

I was able to talk to him last night and we spoke at length. I can’t deny that anytime I talk to him, our feelings for each other seem to grow and strengthen and this warms my heart.

My attention snapped back to the TV screen when the scene shifted - a couple locked in a slow heated kiss. They were in a dimly lit bedroom, and I was certain what would happen next in the scene.

My breath caught in my throat, and every sweet thought about Jake came to a screeching halt. Hear rose to my cheeks and I glanced at Sebastian, hoping he wasn’t paying attention but he was.

In fact, the kind of attention he paid to the scene made my heart race.

I swallowed hard when the man ripped off the woman’s dress sweeping her off the floor in his muscular arms, and made his way to the bed.

No. I couldn’t help but watch such a scene with my big brother.

I looked away from the TV screen, trying to pull my legs from Sebastian’s lap, but his hand tightened around my ankle, holding me in place.

“Relax,” he said softly, turning his gaze to meet mine, his voice almost smoothing but laced with something darker. “It’s just a movie, mine.”

That name again.

The way he said it was enough to send a shiver down my spine. I laughed nervously, my voice cracking.” I know. It’s just …I hmm…I need to use the bathroom.” I lied but he only smiled.

“Lies.” He said. His brown eyes were now a darker shade of brown. I could see the tension in his face. He was holding something back.

His fingers resumed their slow movements, tracing small circles along the skin of my legs. “You’re too tense,” he murmured, his gaze almost bringing a hole in my face. “You should learn to let go:”

The heat in my face spread to the rest of my body. I stared blankly at the coffee table, refusing to meet his eyes. The scene on the screen grew more intimate, with the sounds of ragged breathing, muffled groans, and ecstatic moans filling the room.

No… I couldn’t. I need to leave.

I tried to shift again, determined to get my legs off his lap, but in my nervous fumbling, the heel of my foot brushed against something hard beneath his briefs.

I froze.

What is that??

My heart thundered as realization dawned on me. The way his body stiffened immediately told me all I needed to know.

He was hard.

My gaze snapped immediately and I looked at him in shock, my eyes locking onto his lustful ones.

“Jasmine,” he tried reaching out to me but I shrieked, pulling my legs away from him with every bit of strength I could muster and running up the stairs like my life depended on it.